Bus strike rejected by union members

Staff at Reading Buses voted not to go on strike but they may take some form of industrial action

Staff at Reading Buses voted not to go on strike but they may take some form of industrial action.

The decision by members of Unite not to strike was welcomed today by Reading Transport.

Chief executive James Freeman said: “We are very relieved that members of Unite have not voted for strike action.

“It is encouraging that so many members of the trade union voted against any industrial action at all.

“However, we are deeply disappointed by the fact that there was a vote in favour of some form of industrial action which is less than helpful in the difficult situation the company finds itself in at this time.

“We are still in a deep recession, the worst that most of us can remember in our lifetime, and any move which exacerbates the situation is very difficult to understand.

We will be doing everything we can to provide a normal service to customers over the coming weeks.

“Industrial action is not doing any of us any good.”

He added: “People depend on our bus services and we must not let them down.”

Although 115 members of the trade union voted for a strike, which was 41.2% of the valid vote, 164 were against.

The alternative, to take part in industrial action short of a strike, received a ‘yes’ vote from 158 with 129 voting against.